Hospital Bar Coding

Bar Coding: A Help for our Nurses

Nurses today are very busy. The nursing shortage is taking its toll on patient care and safety - and our nurses. According to a report published in November 2004 as a Web exclusive for Health Affairs, national surveys of RNs and physicians conducted in 2004 found that a clear majority of RNs (82%) and doctors (81%) perceived shortages where they worked.

That's why technology plays an important role in preventing medical errors. A computer is supposed to make it harder to do something wrong and easier to do it right. For nurses, a computer can mean more time with the patient in discussion and care and less time note taking and performing clerical functions.

Let's look at two processes to illustrate how a bar coding application can help streamline a nurse's work flow and cut some unnecessary clerical tasks down. The first process does not involve the use of bar coding. The second process uses bar coding.

Process #1

Before a procedure, nurse walks into the patient's room and confirms patient identification. Then, using a computer system:

Nurse key-enters medical record number into the computer system and the data is transmitted. If data is keyed in wrong, nurse must re-enter information.
Computer returns instructions for nurse.
Nurse reads computer screen and executes instructions.
Nurse hand-writes procedure performed on paperwork, specimen labels, etc.

Process #2 (Patient is wearing a bar coded wristband)

Before a procedure, nurse walks into the patient's room and confirms patient identification. Then, using a computer system:

Patient’s wristband is scanned at the bedside and their bar coded ID is read and transmitted to the computer system.
Computer returns instructions for nurse.
Nurse reads computer screen and executes instructions.
Bedside printer prints bar coded label with detail patient information including name, date of birth, doctor’s name and bar code ID.

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